Association between macular microcirculation and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in patients with macular edema and retinal vein occlusion.

Background: In patients who have macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion, the role of vasoactive molecules such as growth factors and the influence of molecules related to leukocyte adhesion need to be investigated further.

Methods: A prospective study was performed to investigate the relations between perifoveal capillary blood flow velocity and the vitreous levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) in patients with macular edema and retinal vein occlusion. Undiluted vitreous specimens were obtained from 11 eyes of 11 patients with macular edema (nine had branch retinal vein occlusion and two had central retinal vein occlusion). VEGF and sICAM-1 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay. Before vitreous sampling, perifoveal capillary blood flow velocity was measured by fluorescein angiography with a scanning laser ophthalmoscope and the tracing method. The relations between perifoveal capillary blood flow velocity and the vitreous levels of VEGF and sICAM-1 were investigated.

Results: There was a significant correlation between perifoveal capillary blood flow velocity and the vitreous level of sICAM-1 (rho = -0.7303, p = 0.03). In contrast, there was no significant association between blood flow velocity and the vitreous level of VEGF (rho = -0.1458, p = 0.67).

Conclusions: The vitreous level of sICAM-1 is associated with perifoveal capillary blood flow velocity in patients who have retinal vein occlusion and macular edema.